Athletics: Radcliffe AC’s Stu Sharp looks like he is on target for a good run in the Manchester Marathon next month after a personal best time in a half marathon on Sunday.

Athletics: Radcliffe AC’s Stu Sharp looks like he is on target for a good run in the Manchester Marathon next month after a personal best time in a half marathon on Sunday.

In cold, wet and windy conditions but on a quick undulating course Sharp ran the Droitwich half in Worcestershire in 1hr 22mins 26secs and came home in 18th place.

He is hoping, if his training goes to plan, he can run a sub three hour full marathon on April 29.

Sheila Jones, Steve Hamer, Dave Bartlett and John Scarlett are also in training for the city’s marathon and on Sunday Jones and Hamer covered a 20 mile training run by the organisers round part of the Trafford course. It is ten years since Manchester’s last marathon.

Nine members were among 200 runners in the Trotters 5 at Smithills, Bolton, on Sunday.

In the cold on a demanding muddy course Steve Lomax was first home for Radcliffe in 22nd place in 32mins 15secs.

Next was Rob Shiels in 30th place in 33mins 30secs and third home was Rob Andrew in 35mins 07secs.

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